Firearm magazine construction



Oct. 13,1959 H. D. ALLYN 2,908,097

FIREARM MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 19, 1957v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 2 z N i w \1 Z N N i N Z N L I A NI IN VEN TOR.

0a. 13, 1959 v HLD. ALLYN 2,908,097

FIREARM MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION Filed, Nov. 19, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I g g I ZINVENTITR. L BY 0a. 13, 1959 H. D. ALLYN 2,908,097

FIREARM MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION 7 Filed Nov. 19, 1957 s Sheets-Sheeb :s

Oct. 13, 1959 H. D. ALLYN FIREARM MAGAZINE cous'mucnou 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 19, 1957 Oct. 13, 1959 H. D. ALLYN FIREARM MAGAZINE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-$heet 5 Filed Nov. 19, 1957 INVENTOR. I m Z. v WM easier, particularly States Patent "()fiice 2,908,097 Patented Oct. 13, 1 959 "Ihisiinvention relates to new and useful improvements in that class of breecheloading firearms in .whichthe breech-piece consists .of a longitudinally sliding bolt. and a magazine is provided for the containment of one or a plurality of cartridges or shells, each to be successively introduced in "front of -the open breech-piece and carried into the chamber of the barrel by the closing movement thereof.

The invention relates generally to magazine firearms and to the method of feeding cartridges or shells thereinto and the general object hereof is to provide improvements in the method of feeding cartridges or shells to the magazine and feeding same therefrom to the breech andalsoto, provide other improvements in various .details of the magazines. and feeding systems of firearms.

'It is directed specifically to a novelanduniquejfire- .arm construction embodying the general features of a bottom-loading box-type magazine.

The invention relates moreparticu'larly to a follower mechanism operable within .a magazine chamber of a firearm, which chamber is adapted .to receive asingle row of cartridges or shells or a double row .thereof wherein the. cartridges are arranged in interengaging staggered relation.

.The bottom loading feature Ihereof makes loading when applied .to a bolt actiontype of rifle. This is especially true of .a firearm which is equipped with a low mounted telescopicsight.

Too, it enables the hunter to fill a partially charged magazine in the field, when ..he.may be expecting .to .jump game, without rendering theguninoperative by the necessides of :opening the bolt and of charging the magazine from the top, .as in the conventional manner.

As applied to the Mauser type .of bolt .actionfirearm, the invention hereof olfers the sportsmama choiceof three methods of charging the magazine: (1) He may ,charge singly from :the top With the bolt .open .(amethod, pres- :ently used lay-sportsmen) (2,) .hevmay; chagge- .witl1.;the .welleknown Mauser typerharger clip .(a .system;,pre-

ferred by military personnel); or (3) he may..cha rge singly from a :loading ,port in :the bottom. of the:.fir.earm.

The invention :hereof golfers various -;advantages in fire- ;arms of the typesv contemplated. In the first place, 7 the firearm canbe loaded or reloaded while .in the firing position, "and,."in' the second ;place, it .can be 'loadedfrom the :top :as with a:clip, from the topawhere :the,-cartridges are loaded one at a time, or from the bottom wvhere the cartridges can be loaded one-atatime.

.1111 "follower mechanisms of acertain prior art .which function to feed the cartridges of-arstack thereof, wherein said. cartridges are arranged in-1a. double i-row in the 'known interengaging staggerednelationship throughout their vertical :movement upwardlyr from the moment of their loading into the magazine ichamber. to the :moment of their discharge therefrom, it has notalways been-possible 'to adapt 'thefo'llower to support or to engage the lowermost cartridge of each row -of the-stack before the The foregoing and other objects and advantageshereof will ,become more apparent asthe description proceeds. Same reside .in the details of construction operations to be more fully described and .claimed'hereinafter.

Although this invention will be described and illustrated with particular reference to a Mauser type rifle and a shotgun, it should. be appreciated that its utility and application extendbeyond the particular type of firearm illustrated'and comprehend the useful and novel features set forth when.incorporated in other types of weapons. 'That is, the invention basically contemplates certain new fundamental principles of design, which principles can be. equally well applied to various types of firearms.

The invention comprises the features ,hereinaZfterI fully described, and particularly pointed .out in the following description, annexed drawings and claims, setting lfofith :in detail certain illustrative embodiments .of .the 'inven- .tion, these being indicative, however, of huta. fewrof .the .various ways in which the principle of the finventionmay be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

-Fig. 1.-isv a sectional view of the .rnidsection .ofra Ifire .arm. showing .a .basic-rear-pivot .bottomloading magazine of the invention, only so muchof thefirearmbeings'hown as is necessary. to the .understandingofthegeneral features .of .my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on theline 32.2. of .Figtl, the breech :bolt having been retracted .to. therear. or \open. ,position inthe receiver;

Fig. 3.is,.a sectional .viewzon the line 3.3'of1=ig. fl;

Fig. 4 is an outside view of .thebreech .sectionofla rifle .of the Mauser typeshowing. a cartridge being loaded .intoone formsof the magazine. chamber of .my invention;

.Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view .of-the firearmshownin .Fig. 4;

.Fig. .6 is a view, similar to Ei g.=4, but withqtheetock thereof removed for the sake of clarity and with:a ;pln- .rality of cartridgesstackedwithin the-magazine;

-Fig. 7 is a fragmentary outside View -of,-the lower-por- :tion of the breech .section .of the firearrnshownain Fig. 4 showing the cartridges being-emptied .from -.the.-maga zine through-the bottom thereof;

Fig. 8 is -aview, -similar -to .-Fig. '6, but without-cartridges stacked within the magazine, :and withtheabolt .in theopen :position;

Fig. 9 is .a -partia'l sectional view-through the.upper portion ofthe receiverand the breechbolt-andrthe magazine follower wherein the -hreechbolt is closed, the .magazine. is empty, .and :the .magazine follower. isqin its rupper position with the -medial;rib thereofwembracing rthe underside 30f :the breech bolt.

Fig. 10 is a partial sectional Vl6W..O11'ith6'IllIl6jJ:@?10 of Fig. -8 :showing the port. shutofl .ilever and etherport shuto'ff2piv0t .pin, :the'breech aboltibeing in the :open position;

Fig. 1 1 =is-a full sectional view on the line 11'1 l--;of Eigshowing-the:magazine-frillybharged;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line 1212 of Fig. 8 showing the magazine follower arm pivot pin and the magazine follower spring, the port shutoff being in the upward position, the breech bolt-being closed,- and the magazine being empty;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the magazine follower and magazine follower arm;

- Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of the firearm shown in Fig. 6 but with a Mauser type magazine spring in place of a mouse trap type spring;

Fig. 15 is an outside view of the breech section of a shotgun showing shells being loaded into a modified form .of the magazine of my invention; and a n Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view on the section 16-16 of Fig. 15 showing a bottom view of said modified form of magazine. a a

.In the following description and claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience.

These names however are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Referring in detail to the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and referring more particularly to the preferred form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, 1 have shown in Fig. 1, a basic or simplified version of a magazine in association with a simplified breech action of a rifle in order that the general relation and utility of the components may be better understood.

Referring to Fig. 1, represents the barrel, 12 the receiver, in threaded engagement with the barrel, 14- the breech bolt slidably receivable within a longitudinally disposed breech bolt chamber in the receiver, 16 the extractor, and 18 the stock. The breech bolt 14 is in the forward or locked position and may be reciprocated rearwardly relative to and within the receiver 12, during which interval the operations of loading cartridges into and unloading cartridges from the barrel chamber ensue,

all as is well-known.

, A magazine chamber is provided by a vertically disposed recess or cavity which extends through the receiver 12 downwardly of the breech bolt chamber, with which it is in communication, so as to provide what will be referred to as a perpendicular feed so far as the principles of operation are concerned.

The magazine chamber includes a box like metallic casing, generally designated by the numeral 20, which casing is oblong in its horizontal cross section and is defined by vertically disposed walls including a forward wall 22, a pair of spaced opposite side walls 24 and 24 and a rearward wall 26, all of which walls are interconnected and may be secured to the receiver by any conventional means, with the upper end of the magazine chamber being open to afford communication with the breech bolt chamber.

The lower end of the magazine chamber may be closed as by a bottom plate 28 which may be fixed to the vertical Walls in the usual manner. If desired, the lower end 'thereof may be left open with the bottom plate being omitted and with the follower itself (subsequently to be described) serving as the only closure thereat.

The rearward wall 26 does not extend downwardly so as to contact the bottom plate 28 but rather'stops there- 'above so as to provide what will be defined as a lower loading opening or port 30, as shown, and through which the lowermost cartridge of the column thereof as said cartridge is inserted into the magazine through the loading port 30. The follower urges the stack of cartridges upwardly during the storing operation. Subsequently, as the uppermost cartridge of the stack thereof is removed from the top of said stack, the follower continues to move vertically upwardly. Same is actuated by the upward urging of a vertically movable magazine follower spring 36 disposed beneath the follower 34 and held relative to the side walls 24 of the magazine chamber by means of transversely extending ears 38 extending into the side walls. See Fig. 3.

The free forward end portion 29 of the follower may be so bent that, upon the depression of the follower, it extends through a suitable opening 29' in the bottom plate 28. See Fig. 1.

It will be observed that the follower 34 is depressed by each successive'cartridge as same is inserted into the magazine through the lower loading port 30. When released, following loading, the follower moves upwardly against the lowermost cartridge of the stack thereof to embrace same snugly whereby the cartridges are prevented from escaping rearwardly and -dow-nwardl through the lower loading port.

At the top side of the side walls 24 and 24, magazine cars 25 of conventional design may be provided or, in lieu thereof, magazine feed cuts (not shown) may be provided in the receiver 12, inthe well-known manner. The cars or the feed cuts, as the case maybe, assist in the feeding of the cartridges from the magazine upwardly into the chamber in the well-known manner.

. The operating mechanism of the breech bolt is conventional. When same is reciprocated' forwardly, the topmost cartridge C is urged into the breech bolt rim cuts (not shown) on the forward face of the breech bolt for subsequent transfer to the barrel chamber.

After firing of the piece has been effected, the'recoil action of the breech bo-lt ensues. Of course, the breech bolt can also be moved rearwardly by manual action. Upon the subsequent forward'reciprocation of the breech bolt, another cartridge is withdrawn from the magazine chamber and is advanced into the firing chamber. Such action continues until the magazine chamber. is emptied. In Fig. 1, a lowermost cartridge is shown as being loaded into the lower rearward end of the magazine chamber through the loading port 30. The follower has been depressed by the insertion of the said lowermost cartridge into the magazine chamber. The breech bolt is shown as in the closed position.

In Fig. 2, however, the magazine is illustrated as being fully charged. The breech bolt is not shown therein, same having been reciprocated to its rearmost position relative to the receiver.

Referring now to Fig. 4, l have shown the breech section of a Mauser type rifle wherein a cartridge C is illustrated as being loaded by a thumb T of an operator into a magazine chamber according'to'one formof my invention. 1

Herein represents the barrel, 112 the receiver, 114 the breech bolt slidably receivable within the receiver, 115 the bolt handle, 118 the stock, 119 the trigger and 119' the trigger guard. The barrel 110 is threadedly secured to the forward end of the receiver 112 in the wellknown manner. The breech bolt 114 is of the upturnand-pull-back type. I

A magazine is provided in the upper portion of the through aligned openingsdn-spaced opposite side walls extending upwardly from the member 140,as shown. l he forward extremityofthe bottomifloor plate'member is engageable with a swingable clamping member 144 which is' held in pivotal relation with'the receiver by means o'f==a clamping shoulder =screw"146 so as to be movable into-:and outof clamping engagement with the bottom fioor -pla'te member.

1 iA -pimor stop 145 depends-vertically downwardly from the guard to limit the swinging movement of the clamp- -ing member 1=44-andtoinsure the stopping thereof at its optimum clamping position.

A release catch, pivoted to the forward portion of the guard -on-a horizontal or horizontally -slidable relativethereto, couldbe'used in lieu ofthe clamping member 144 -as illustrated and described.

When --so clamped to the guard, the bottom =floor *plate member' l lfl serves to close o'ifthe bottom of the magazine chamber. When unclamped, the'bottom -floor memberds-pivoted downwardly upon the follower arm pivot pin 142 by means of a spring subsequently to be described.

One side of the trigger "guard and the lower portion of Ztheadjac'ent side of the stock are cut away-to provide a lower'loading opening 'or port 136 therethrough (best' 'shown in-Figs i and 5)- which-affords=entrance=from=the outside ofthe firearminto the magazine chamber.

' Through this-port or opening :130,"the cartridges Cmay be inserted in seriatim into the magazinechamber.

In' this instance, as best shown inthe cut-away view,

Fig. '6, -the-magazine chamber may=be of suc'hwidth-as to provide. a=means-'for receiving two-rows 'of staggeredcart- =ridges-in the =-w'ell known manner.

-Fivotally mounted within aslot in the bifurcated-forward portion of the trigger guard -119', ='by means of the aforedescribed follower-armpin 1'42, isa vertically-mov- -2ilf2le mag-azine follower arm 134.

'l he follower arm 134 is provided with a hump 135 which supports the cartridges when'the magazineis nearly tn-11.

At the forward eXtremity-of the .fo'llower arm 134, 'preferably called a primaryarm 'portion of the follower, is a forwardly extending complemental follower 150, -prefer- -ably'called-a secondary arnrportion of the followenwhich "is-pivotally fixedto the mem'ber134-by means of atranswersely extending'follower pivot-pin -152,'--as shown.

-Fixed to the underside of the primary arm portion 134-is a stop 154 which holds the secondary arm por- .tion :150 .at 'a predetermined angle relative thereto for ztheepurpose :ofguiding the: stack of cartridges in -vertica'l movement within the magazinechamber.

:Thestop 154.1's arprojection whichywhenzthe rarm. portion-.134rhas risen'a predetermined :amount, con- ..tacts the bottom rearsurface of the secondary arm .por-

tion (which .up .tothistime has'been free and undenno isp'ringtension). Spring tension is now applied to .the

secondary arm portion. .At .about this point, theihurnp 135 on Ltheprimary arm portion no longer comPletly supportstl're cartridges. Support of theremaining car- "tridges inthe'magazine is now taken over by the. secondary arm portion.

The:.primary arm portion of the follower serves as a -closure means for the magazine when-the 'firearm is .sempty, as shown in Fig. 8.

On the uppermost face of the secondary arm portion 150 visa vertically extending medial guide 'and supporting rib A156 which may beeformed-integral with :or may beotherwise suitably attachedto said secondaryarm por- ..tion so. as .to .give .it .a .generally inverted T shape.

vTherib .156 moves vertically within the magazine chamber -and 'isnormally biased vertically. upwardly as the iifollower so moves. rWith no cartridges in the magazine, the rib'156bears "upwardly against the bolt as in the 'Mauser typej'o'f rifle 'and'asfshown' inFig. 9. p

The medial rib 1'56 functions-*to-stack the-eartridges "6 in the well-known staggered relation within the magazine chamber as will be-hereinafter explained.

When the magazine isfully loaded, the primary and secondary arm portions of the follower are -disposed.:adjacent to or below the lower loading portand the primary 'arm portion engages the" lowermost 'o'f the-cartridges C of the stack thereofand presses same-upwardly.

A magazine follower-spring 136 is of the 'mousetrap type and has a midsection disposed beneath. the primary arm portion 134 and has opposite end portions which-enclose the pin 142 on opposite outer'sides of the trigger guard 119 :and within the upwardly extending sidewalls 141 -of the bottom'floor member 140.

A modified form of spring defined asaflat'Mauser/type magazinespring generally indicated by 143 is shown-in Fig. 14. Same may housed in lieu of the-mousetrap type of spring shown in Fig.6.

The upper end of the spring which presses upwardly is retained to the primary-arm portion 134 by beingslid underneatha projection=145on the-lower -side--:of ithe primary arm portion 134.

The lower endof the spring which presses downwardly is'retained by a projection 145 01: the upper'sideof. the bottom floor plate.

When this typemagazine spring is used in the manner shown in Fig. 14, the bottom loading feature of the magazine is reduced byone cartridge owing to :the .fact that the fiat spring restricts the downward movementof the follower hinge joint which occursas the cartridgesiare beingpushed into theloading port 130.

The last cartridge may however be placed in the magazine from the top, as is conventional, with-Mauser type firearms.

In other words, the total capacityo'f the magazine is not reduced but the 'numberof cartridges that can be loaded from the bottom is reduced by one.

The primary arm portion is biased under spring-loading to act upon the follower-in such manneras to urge the latter toward its uppermost positionin'the magazine cham- With particular reference to Fig. 1l,"it--will be observed that the magazine chamber .is of a w'idthtoaccommodate a double column of cartridges which-are'confined within the-magazine chamber ininterengagingstaggered relation.

The medial rib on the secondary-arm portion l50 is constructed'and arranged to engage, by itsapex, the dowermost cartridge in the magazine chamber along the longiitudinal side portion thereof so as to cause -the:said cartridge to be disposed on oneor the otherside :of the magazine chamber wherefore the-double column ofsta'ggered cartridges is attained.

That is to say, and as those skilled in the art will understand, the cartridge stack iscornprised of=a plurality of cartridges which may be loaded in seriatim into the magazine chamber with theuppermost, first-to-be-loaded,

cartridge disposed in the left or right row, as chance may dictate. The medial rib supportably engages .a longitudinal side portion of the cartridge and urges same against the adjacent side wallof the magazine chamber irrespective of whether the cartridge is in the relative left or right row of the cartridge stack being formed. The

"next-to-be-loaded cartridge automatically assumes a positionin the opposite rowandso on-as the subsequent cartridges are loaded thereinto whereby the two-rowinterengaging staggered relationship is attained.

The secondary arm portion and the medial rib are so shaped and positioned that when the cartridge stack "is disposed within the magazine chamber, the cartridges are so positioned that friction is reduced when the uppermost cartridge of the stack is moved through the upper port and forwardly relative to the receiver during the operation of chambering the same into the barrel wherefore centered position :relative to'the barrel chamber.

The cartridges of the stack thereof are confined within the magazine chamber by the side walls of the magazine to exert lateral pressure upon the sides of the cartridge stack thereby retaining the cartridges in the two-row interengaging relation shown and described.

The inner surface of the follower and the surfaces of the medial rib are conformed to such a shape as to permit the free passage of the base portion of the lowermost cartridge upon discharge thereof from the magazine chamber.

No specific number of cartridges need be loaded into the magazine before the same is rendered operable.

Conceivably the cartridges may be stacked in :a single row, or in a double row of staggered cartridges, or in a double row converging into a single row. The bottom floor plate member 140 conceivably may be omitted without affecting the function of the magazine. Were it eliminated, the design of the magazine follower spring 136 would require slight modification as, in the form shown in Figs. 4-14, the member 140 serves to retain one end of said spring 136.

Additionally and if desired, in Fig. 6, a gate 160 may be provided which is fixed to the receiver as by a screw 162 so as to provide a downwardly depending free end portion 161 which by its own spring tension covers the port 139 to prevent ingress therethrough when the breech bolt is rearward, thus functioning as a port shutoff. A lifter 164 is fixed to the receiver as by a pin 166 or the like and is provided at one end with a lifter tail 168 which may be cammed by the breech bolt handle as sarne is turned downwardly when the breech bolt is in the closed position, as is well-known. As the lifter tail is cammed by the breech bolt handle, the lifter functions to lift the gate away from its blocking position in front of the port 130. The lifter tail additionally functions as a detent to hold the breech bolt closed when in the firing or battery position.

In Fig. 6, the gate is shown as being in the up position, with the breech bolt in the closed position.

In Fig. 8, the gate is shown as being in the down position so as to illustrate the function of the port shutofi in blocking the loading port into the magazine, with the breech bolt in the open position.

The gate, as disclosed herein, is more or less a basic type of gate which is adaptable particularly for bolt action type rifles. In the case of a lever action or straight pull type rifle, the gate would he basically the same but would be somewhat modified in structure.

In Fig. 7, I have illustrated the feature of unloading the cartridge chamber by the act of penetrating the thumb of the operator into the port 130 in the side of the stock 118.

In operation, with the magazine empty, the magazine follower is in its most upward position, as shown in Fig. 8. With the breech bolt closed, the point of a cartridge C may be pressed against the follower, which is pivoted on the magazine follower arm pivot pin, and pushed into the magazine against the tension of the magazine follower spring. After the first cartridge is fully in the magazine, the loading operation may be repeated with other cartridges until the magazine is fully charged.

Referring now to Figs. and 16, I have shown the breech section of a shotgun wherein a shell S is illustrated as being loaded into the magazine chamber and another shell S is representated as already loaded in the magazine chamber, of another form of my invention. Herein 210 represents the barrel, 212 the receiver, 214 the breech bolt slidably receivable within the receiver, 215 the bolt handle, 218 the stock, 219 the trigger, and 219' the trigger guard.

A magazine chamber is provided within the receiver,

as in the form hereinabove described, and comprises a walled vertically disposed opening which extends into .the receiver. The upper end of the magazine chamber is open and communicates with the breech bolt chamber.

The lower end of the magazine chamber is likewise open and is provided with a bottom floor plate member 240. A follower arm pivot pin 242 extends transversely through the side walls 324 of the magazine.

The magazine chamber includes a forward wall 322, spaced opposite side walls 324 and 324 and a rearward wall 326. The forward and rearward walls, arranged as shown, serve to prevent the rim of the lowermost shell from getting ahead of the rim of the shell thereabove.

The primary arm portion 234 of the follower has a bend or hump 235 intermediate its opposite ends, as shown in Fig. 15.

The secondary arm portion250 of the follower is T shaped in plan view and the top of the T contains the hinge pin connecting it to the follower arm 234.

The front end of the member 250 is narrowed to enable it to enter a vertical slot cut centrally in the forward wall 322 which enables the follower to repose about as shown in Fig. 15 when the magazine is fully charged.

A retaining clip 245 is provided on the bottom of the member 234 and serves to retain the mousetrap type spring 236 in place. The lower front ends of the spring are straight and lie fiat on the bottom of the magazine.

The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in these drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Here, I have illustrated an example of two embodiments of the invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with two modes which I have devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention. It will be understood however that other changes and alterations are contemplated and that other embodiments may be utilized within the scope of the claims, without departing from the basic principles and the contemplated scope of the present invention and that no limitations are to be implied from the foregoing specific description.

It is to be further understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described and limitation of this invention should be made only as determined by a proper interpretation of the terms used in the subjoined claims.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the object of the invention may be attained by use of constructions different in certain respects from those disclosed without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. Various suitable modifications and variations in structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention. I therefore desire by the following claims to include, within the scope of my invention, all such suitable variations, modifications and equivalents by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

Without further analysis, the foregoing is intended to so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims below. i

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a firearm, including a receiver and a breech bolt and barrel, the improvement comprising, :a vertically disposed magazine extending below the receiver for the loading of the cartridges in seriatim thereinto through a lowermost cartridge loading portand for the storage of a stack of cartridges therein preparatory to the feeding of the same therefrom in seriatim to the breech of the barrel through an uppermost cartridge discharge port, a follower including a vertically movable primary follower arm portion pivotally mounted at the rearward end of said magazine adjacent and below the horizontal plane of the loading port and being movable vertically toward and away from the discharge port, said follower being disposed beneath and embraceable with the lowermost of the cartridges of the stack thereof, spring means for imparting an upwardly directed force to the cartridges of the stack thereof in line with the vertical axis of the stack as the cartridges are held in storage position and are successively discharged through the discharge port, and a loading port shut-off mechanism including, a gate having a forward end fixed to the receiver and a rearward end extending downwardly for normally blocking ingress through the loading port when the breech bolt is in the rearward open position, and a lifter pivotally mounted on the receiver and having a rearward lifter tail portion and a forward elevator portion, the tail portion being cammable downwardly by the breech bolt for lifting said gate away from its covering position when the breech bolt is in its forward position.

2. In a firearm, including a receiver and breech bolt and barrel, the improvement comprising, a magazine for the loading of the cartridges in seriatim thereinto through a cartridge loading port and for the storage of a stack of cartridges therein preparatory to the feeding of the same therefrom in seriatim to the breech of the barrel through cartridge discharge port, a follower pivotally mounted at the rearward end of said magazine adjacent and below the horizontal plane of the loading port and movable vertically toward and away from the discharge port, said fol'lower being disposed beneath and embraceable with the lowermost of the cartridges of the stack thereof, spring means for imparting an upwardly directed force to the cartridges of the stack thereof, and a loading port shut-off including, a gate having a forward end fixed to the receiver and a rearward end extending downwardly for normally blocking ingress through the loading port when the breech bolt is in the rear position, and a lifter pivotally mounted on the receiver and having a rearward tail portion and a forward elevator portion, the portion being cammable downwardly by the breech bolt for rotating the elevator portion to elfect the lifting of said gate from its covering position when the breech bolt is in the closed position.

3. In a firearm, including a receiver and breech bolt and barrel, the improvement comprising, a vertically disposed magazine extending below the receiver for the loading of the cartridges in seriatim thereinto through a lowermost cartridge loading port and for the storage of a stack of cartridges therein preparatory to the feeding of the same therefrom in seriatim to the breech of the barrel through an uppermost cartridge discharge port, the lowermost cartridge loading port of said magazine being located rearwardly and in the lower portion there- 10 a of, a follower including a vertically movable primary follower arm portion pivotally mounted at the rearward end of said magazine adjacent and below the horizontal plane of the lowermost cartridge loading port and a secondary arm portion pivotally connected to the primary arm portion, said follower being movable vertically in line with the stack of the cartridges, said follower being disposed beneath and embraceable with the lowermost of the cartridges of the stack thereof, said spring means having a capacity for imparting an upwardly directed force to the cartridges of the stack thereof in line with the vertical axis of the stack as the cartridges are held in storage position and are successively discharged through the uppermost cartridge discharge port for chambering purposes, a hump on said primary follower arm portion bearing against the lowermost of the cartridges of the stack thereof with said spring means urging said primary follower arm portion upwardly, said secondary follower arm portion being urged upwardly for acting on the lowermost of the cartridges of the stack thereof when the magazine is partially full by a projection protruding outwardly from said primary follower arm portion and bearing on said secondary follower arm portion.

4. In a firearm, including a receiver and breech bolt and barrel, the improvement comprising, a magazine extending below the receiver for the loading of the cartridges in seriatim thereinto through a cartridge loading port and for the storage of a stack of cartridges therein preparatory to the feeding of the same therefrom in seriatim to the breech of the barrel through a cartridge discharge port, a follower including a vertically movable primary follower arm portion pivotally mounted at the rearward end of said magazine adjacent and below the horizontal plane of the cartridge loading port and a secondary follower arm portion pivotally connected to said primary portion, said follower being movable vertically in line with the stack of the cartridges, said follower being disposed beneath and embraceable with the lowermost of the cartridges of the stack thereof, spring means imparting an upwardly directed force to the cartridges of the stack thereof in line with the vertical axis of the stack as the cartridges are held in storage position and are successively discharged through the cartridge discharge port, a hump on said primary portion bearing against the lowermost of the cartridges of the stack thereof with said spring means urging said primary portion upwardly, said secondary portion being urged upwardly for acting on the lowermost of the cartridges of the stack thereof when the magazine is partially full by a projection protruding outwardly from said primary portion and bearing on said secondary portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 303,262 Burgess Aug. 12, 1884 501,367 Russell July 11, 1893 918,646 Berthier Apr. 20, 1909 1,410,354 White Mar. 21, 1922 1,552,457 Swebilius Sept. 8, 1925 2,366,684 Garand Jan. 2, 1945 2,594,237 Wallenhorst Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 215,970 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1944 

